The story
The Triple Crown represents the continued dominance of polyester through the 1970s, but with an unusual twist: its cover used a "rubberdust-chalky" material composition. This hybrid approach suggests Brunswick was experimenting with additives to modify the feel and performance of standard polyester. The serial number KK1326 follows Brunswick's dating system, with the second letter indicating the year. By 1973, polyester had fully replaced hard rubber as the standard material for recreational and competitive bowling. Only high-performance urethane balls (introduced in 1981) would begin to challenge polyester's dominance later in the decade.
The "rubberdust-chalky" composition is unusual for a polyester ball. Most polyester balls used a pure plastic formulation. This experimental blend suggests Brunswick was searching for a way to give polyester some of the friction characteristics of rubber while maintaining its durability. It is a transitional piece that hints at the particle and reactive technologies to come.